How Teaching Makes You Better at DOING by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (plus a giveaway!)

It’s back to school season here in New Jersey (or, outside Philadelphia, as I typically refer to it) and that means big changes in my household. All summer, my kids and I are bums. We hang out at the beach, at the pool, at the mall. We travel, we sleep in, we do nothing. Summer is heaven.

But come September, my children’s lives change. Gone are the no schedule, no stress days and in their place we have wake up alarms, agenda books, and deliverables (and, it seems, a LOT of laundry!). The kids aren’t the only ones who go back to school—as a children’s book author, the school year means that I go back to school as well.

Every year, between school visits, Skype visits, and events like Dot Day or World Read Aloud Day, I connect with about 100 different schools all around the world. Because I spend so much time with school kids, I end up doing quite a bit of teaching, especially teaching writing. Which happens to be a completely different skill than actually writing.

There is a very stupid expression that you sometimes hear people throw around: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” I want to be very, very clear here: that is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Not only is it disparaging, inflammatory, and demeaning, it also has the distinction of being very WRONG. I definitely knew that before I personally started working with schools, but now that I teach on a regular basis, I can tell you that those who teach can do better than anyone else.

It has to do with the nature of teaching. In order to teach someone a skill, you have to know it so well that you can explain every step, even the ones you do automatically or on muscle memory. Here’s an example: when I was in graduate school, I bought a brand new Mustang that I couldn’t drive. Because it was a stick shift and I only knew how to drive an automatic. So I had a friend try to teach me how to drive stick. We got in my car, I started it up, and I asked him what to do next. He said, “OK, now drive.” I looked at him blankly. “Just don’t stall the car,” he added. I had no idea what that meant. So he said, “Don’t ease off the clutch to quickly. Or too slowly!”

At that point, I threw him out of the car. He, to this day, doesn’t understand what had upset me.

He knew how to drive a manual, and things that I needed to know—how to properly come off the clutch when changing gears, how to tell when to shift up or down, etc.—were things he’d stopped thinking about. So he couldn’t teach me to do them because he hadn’t been thinking about all those little steps that you do to succeed that once you’re successful, you completely forget about.
(For the record, I can now totally drive a stick.)

When I started teaching writing, I struggled with this same thing. I thought to myself, How can I teach something that I just DO? Trust me, this was very difficult to figure out. But the more I did figure it out—the better I got at teaching others how to write—the better I actually got at writing. Just like my friend who failed at teaching me how to drive my Mustang because there were so many things he was doing on autopilot that he couldn’t explain, as writers, we do that same thing. When you get to a certain point in your writing journey, you don’t even think about certain things like how to conceptualize a complex character or add layers to your plot, you just do it. But if you try to teach someone else how you do what you do, you have to break down every action into baby steps so that you can show your students how to mimic your actions. This forces you to think through your methods, and in the process, refine them even more.

So even if you’re not at the point in your publishing career where you are teaching, I’d like to encourage you to think like a teacher to become a better writer. For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to create a charismatic main character,” I’d ask you to analyze what steps you’d take to do that, like:

Start with something familiar

Add some positive unique features

Give the character some flaws that make him or her relatable

Give him or her positive relationships (family, best friend, etc.) and negative relationships (nemesis, villain, etc.)

Temper every extreme (like “good” or “bad”) with something that brings it back a notch (like “good but hates kittens” or “bad but rescues kittens”)

The more you go through this process of treating your writing objectives like lesson plans, the deeper you’ll understand what you’ve done when something work—and what you may have left off inadvertently when something doesn’t work.

When you’re a good teacher, your students will benefit. When you yourself are your own student, your teaching skills make you so much better at doing.

Happy Back to School!

Sudipta is an award-winning author of over 40 books and the co-founder of both Kidlit Writing School and Kidlit Summer School. Her books include DUCK DUCK MOOSE, TYRANNOSAURUS WRECKS, ORANGUTANGLED, and over thirty more books that have been acclaimed by the Junior Library Guild, the California Reader’s Collection, the Bank Street Books Reading Committe, the Amelia Bloomer list, and many more. Find out more about her by visiting Sudipta.com or her blogs Nerdy Chicks Rule and Nerdy Chicks Write.

The Picture Book A to Z series is designed to be a collection of master level classes that cover all of the fundamentals of picture book craft. While each class is complete on its own, taken together, the series will teach you everything you ever wanted to now about picture books- and a lot more!

The ability to craft a strong picture book plot is one of the factors that separates unpublished writers from those who consistently sign publishing contracts to see their work in print. This course will teach you the essentials of creating compelling plots, starting with Arcs, Beginnings, and Climaxes — then literally taking you through the alphabet. Each topic will be explored in depth, both in the lessons and in the discussion forums and webinars. The writing exercises that are a part of of the course are designed to help you apply the lessons to your own writing seamlessly and immediately. By the end of the course, you will never look at plotting the same way again! The first course in this series, Plotting in Picture Books, will begin on October 6, 2014.

Bonus Critique: Register for Plotting in Picture Books before September 20, 2014 and receive a free picture book manuscript review and 20-minute Skype session with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, redeemable within six months of the course’s completion.

Thanks, Sudipta! And now for the giveaway…either a 20-minute telephone/Skype PB critique with Sudipta or one of her signed books. The choice is yours. Just comment once below by September 16th to enter!

Great post! As a former teacher, I agree – it is a hard and little appreciated job, but makes such an enormous difference to the students! I love teaching writing. Not grammar & spelling, but writing. 😉 Looking forward to your classes, Sudipta!

Good luck to you and your family in the new school year. Thanks for your great tips on creating a charismatic character. I’m thinking about taking your class and will sign up before the 20th! Thanks Sudipta and Tara 🙂

I loved reading this, and how you delved deeper into the exact hows that you naturally do stuff in order to share it. I think this is so useful in many fields, like art even. And then teaching becomes a wonderful win win for student and self as teacher. Great post!!

Such a timely and poignant post for me as I have suddenly been thrust into Teacher Mom because of a teachers’ strike here! This gives me some much needed perspective to tackle language arts “class” with the kids. Thanks!

great post, Sudipta! as a former teacher I can add to the whole thing that teaching isn’t as easy as it looks. What people don’t see is the planning, the trying-to-figure-out part: how do I bring a particular student from where he is to a higher level? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks to Tara for sharing your observations on teaching. Very true! I’m a better writer because I critique and beta read for fellow writers.
Thanks to Sudipta for giving your time or one of your book away. I’m sure your class will be worth every penny.

Great post Sudipta! On a related note I find that whatever writing tips/lessons I have learned seem to get more solidified when I critique other people’s work. Only then does it become more innate within my own writing.

That old saw needs to die! After watching good teachers in action, I have decided that the job is more difficult than rocket science or brain surgery—especially when teaching kids. And in a sense, there is ever so much more at stake.

Tara…as a teacher, I cannot agree more with what you are saying. I find myself learning more about my subject (undergrad Psychology) every time I teach a course. And…since I have taken courses with Sudipta, and intend to take her new one on plot, I cannot rave about her enough. She is amazing!!!
Truly enjoyed reading this…Excellent!

I organize a local writer’s group and often teach about some aspect of the writing craft/business. I felt unqualified at first. But, I’ve decided that we are learning together. Actually, because of the research involved in preparing for each program, I think I’m the one learning the most!

So glad you “busted” that demeaning quote. Always have known that teachers are well able to break down skills for any manner of learner. Always remember my dad trying to teach my older brother math – my dad was near genius in math and went from A to Z. my brother had to go step by slow step.I ended up helping him as I could do the jump but also saw what he needed.

Great information and thank you for defending teachers! I also got a new car that was stick. My mom drove it off the lot and took me to an empty parking lot to teach me how to drive. I drove the car to work the next day. My mom had been a teacher and knew how to teach!

You are the perfect person to give this course, Sudipta – you definitely know what you are talking about. 🙂 As a former teacher (Is there really someone who is a ‘former’ teacher? I don’t think so – once a teacher – always a teacher!) I used to laugh (well, perhaps SCREAM) when someone said that about those who can, do and those who can’t, teach. Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world – you must know…but more importantly, you must be able to communicate that knowing.
I’ll be taking another pb writing class in October – but I know those who register for your class, Sudipta, will be happy they did!

Reblogged this on Radhika Meganathan and commented:
That old age – Those who can’t, teach – annoys me. I do a lot in my life, with the time I have in my hands, with the brain God has given me. And I love to teach. Does that make me a loser? I hope NOT!

Now, I am not saying I have academic credentials to teach (I probably never will, since I am now wired to only write, not study!) but I have several years’ experience in my field of expertise and it warms my heart to help others who are at the bottom of the ladder. Just my bit to make their journey a little easier.

Not only that, every time I hold a workshop, I learn something new from the participants. I am always amazed when that happens – the teacher becomes the student. The synergy happens, and its both humbling and exhilarating. In my opinion, if every qualified person in India tries to mentor just one fledgling under his wing, we would be a super power in no time.

Right, so that fantasy aside, here is an article on why How Teaching Makes You Better at DOING. It’s by Sudipta Barden-Quellen, an accomplished children’s writer and my old batch mate from the 2004 Highlights Conference in New York. Enjoy!

The quote you shared about “…those who can’t, teach” shows how ignorant some people can be. I love teaching! I learn something new every day. I encourage the students I work with to teach what they have learned to someone else. That’s when they know they have really learned something. Thanks for the great post.

Well said! I’m motivated! This is great advice too! 😀
Erik
P.S. On a side note, I like this story my mom tells = Mom taught herself how to drive a stick… In her brother’s nice fancy sports car car. 😉 She told him that she knew how to drive stick – then she just figured it out… 😉

Amen for teachers, and for more good tips from Sudipta. Thanks!!
I learned to drive (automatic) when me and my older siblings were supposed to be at 5 o’clock mass but were instead cruising the mall parking lot (it was that or Steak n Shake). They put me behind the wheel and told me nothing. I thought that to slow down you pressed the accelerator and then let it up.

I would love to do this course but I am on vacation the first two weeks of October with no internet access. But I really need the plotting and story arc defined clearly. Can I get the material another way?

I’m going to look into your class, Sudipta–sounds great! I know what you mean about it being difficult to teach what seems second nature. I found it much easier to teach haiku or concrete poetry writing than rhyme. How could they not get rhyme and meter? Seems so clear to me. You may say that about me soon–how can she not get this whole plot thing? 😉

Very meaty post. Thank you.
Happy back to school to all and good luck learning, teaching, and writing. I think I’d be too nervous about a conversation but I’d love to win a signed book!
Funny comment about being in car with Sudipta. Made me laugh!

Sudipta, great advice, as usual. I have taught many art classes over the years, and I agree with everything you said about the self-enriching aspects of teaching (the student’s enrichment is a far more uncertain achievement)! I hope I can join your up-coming class: I was just lamenting that I missed the class you did with Mira. Thanks!

I can soooo relate to what you’re saying. I have 2 books out and six more on the way but when I’m asked to talk to a workshop or group of people, I always wonder what could they possibly learn from me? I just do it! However, when I really think about it, that’s not true. I did a ton of research on how to become a children’s book writer and practiced, practiced, practiced. Anyway, your post is giving me new courage that maybe I know what I’m talking about when I do get in front of a crowd, which I have to do soon. Thanks for the post!

[…] of our favorite things. Sudipta talks about this in a guest post over on Tara Lazar’s blog: How Teaching Makes You Better at DOING. (She’s doing a giveaway too until the 16th. Check it out!) Now we’re embracing […]

[…] and teaching are two of our favorite things. Sudipta talks about this in a guest post over on Tara Lazar’s blog: How Teaching Makes You Better at DOING. (She’s doing a giveaway too until the 16th. Check it out!) Now we’re embracing teaching […]

I participated in the Nerdy Chicks Summer School, and it was fantastic! The worksheets alone were worth the price of admission. I am glad to see Sudipta and Kami turning their efforts to online classes. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in serious writing.